MapleStory Classic World 2nd Job Comparison: Which Job to Pick

01When you choose, and why it matters

Nexon’s grand launch release notes list first job advancement at level 10 and second job advancement at level 30, with a launch level cap of 100. You return to the same instructor for both steps: Dances with Balrog in Perion for Warriors, Grendel the Really Old in Ellinia for Magicians, Athena Pierce in Henesys for Bowmen and the Dark Lord in Kerning City for Thieves.

At level 30 that instructor offers only your own family’s branches. A Thief chooses Assassin or Bandit; a Bowman chooses Hunter or Crossbowman; a Warrior chooses Fighter, Page or Spearman; a Magician chooses Fire/Poison Wizard, Ice/Lightning Wizard or Cleric.

MapleStory Classic Wiki states that this choice only happens once per character, and MS Classic says the second job advancement is permanent. Third job is not in the launch content. MeowDB’s roadmap summary says Ossyria and third job have no date yet, with a third job test server planned for early 2027. Your second job is therefore the class you will play for the foreseeable future.

02How we compare the jobs

Every damage number on this page comes from MeowDB’s Second-Job DPS Rankings at Lv 70 (by Nia Meow, updated November 3, 2026), which we re-checked on November 3. It uses Grummash’s level 70 builds on the Realistic gear tier: Lesser scrolls at 100% success, +1 each. A figure is total damage in 60 seconds of continuous casting (damage per minute, or DPM).

Read the numbers as a model, not a promise. MeowDB’s own limitations: every hit lands, the target has no defense and never moves, and HP, MP and ammunition never run out. F/P, I/L and Cleric have no booster at second job. The AoE chart assumes every skill hits its full target cap, and the Fighter rows include expected Axe Mastery Bleed uptime.

Cleric is not in the AoE chart because Holy Arrow hits one monster. Assassin is not in it because it has no multi-target attack in first or second job. We have not tested any of these numbers in game; where a source gives a play-style note instead of a number, we quote it and say where it came from.

03Assassin vs Bandit (Thief)

This is the biggest damage gap inside any family. At the Lv 70 benchmark Bandit leads all ten jobs in single-target damage with 327,454 DPM, about 28% more than Assassin’s 255,978. MeowDB’s Bandit rotation keeps Steal refreshed and fills the rest with Savage Blow; Assassin uses Lucky Seven at level 20.

MS Classic lists the skill numbers behind that gap. Lucky Seven throws 2 stars at 140% each. Savage Blow hits 6 times at 75% each. Drain hits for 240% at max, and Steal can hit up to 2 mobs. That makes Bandit the only Thief with any multi-target attack at this stage: Steal reaches 205,529 DPM at two targets.

• Pick Assassin if you want to fight from range. MeowDB notes that High Avoidability reduces incoming hits and that Haste gives the party Speed and Jump. The cost is ammunition: stronger throwing stars are very expensive, and Steelys are likely unfarmable until Lv 70+. Low HP makes bad positioning costly.
• Pick Bandit if you want the top single-target number and do not mind standing next to monsters. MS Classic also notes that a Bandit can keep throwing stars until about level 40 (the "Sindit" route) and then switch to daggers.

04Hunter vs Crossbowman (Bowman)

The Bowman branches sit close together on a single target. Hunter posts 245,268 DPM with Double Shot, about 5% more than Crossbowman’s 232,722 with the same skill. MeowDB credits Hunter’s edge partly to Bow Booster, which gives a faster attack cycle than the Crossbowman benchmark.

The gap opens on packs. Hunter’s Arrow Bomb reaches 708,681 DPM at six targets, second only to Fighter, while Crossbowman’s Iron Arrow reaches 585,949, about 21% less.

• Pick Hunter if you want the stronger numbers on both charts and enjoy crowded maps. MeowDB notes that Arrow Bomb hits six targets and can stun them, but costs 28 MP at max and burns through Lemons on dense maps.
• Pick Crossbowman if you like lining monsters up. MeowDB notes that Iron Arrow pierces through six mobs in a straight line, and that the best maps need long, flat lanes that keep mobs lined up; slow attacks make cramped platforms miserable.

05Fighter vs Page vs Spearman (Warrior)

All three Warriors use Power Strike for single targets and Slash Blast for packs, and MeowDB notes that these remain the main damage skills until third job. On one target they are within about 15% of each other: Fighter (2H Axe) 252,103 DPM, Page (2H Blunt) 240,879 and Spearman (Spear) 219,030.

On full packs, Fighter leads all ten jobs at 797,230 DPM with six targets, helped by Axe Mastery Bleed rolling separately on every target. Page follows at 664,788 and Spearman at 592,472.

• Pick Fighter if you want the strongest mobbing and the most weapon choice. MeowDB lists huge weapon variety: one-handed and two-handed swords and axes.
• Pick Page if you want extra safety. MeowDB notes that one-handed builds can use a shield and fully block eligible physical hits with Guard.
• Pick Spearman if you want reach. MeowDB notes that Spearman has the longest reach of the three Warrior branches and that Rush helps group mobs, but it has no shield option, no Guard passive and no new main attack at second job.

06Fire/Poison vs Ice/Lightning vs Cleric (Magician)

The Magicians rank last in single-target damage at this benchmark, partly because MeowDB gives them no booster at second job. Fire/Poison Wizard reaches 159,952 DPM with Fire Arrow, Ice/Lightning Wizard 151,062 with Cold Beam and Cleric 131,599 with Holy Arrow, all at level 30.

The two Wizards split sharply on packs. Fire/Poison’s Poison Breath reaches 668,499 DPM at six targets, about 57% more than Ice/Lightning’s Thunder Bolt at 426,537. Cleric has no pack number because Holy Arrow hits one monster.

• Pick Fire/Poison if you want the best Magician damage on both charts. MeowDB notes that Fire Arrow deals 25% more damage to fire-weak mobs, while Poison Breath can hit up to six; max Poison Breath costs 40 MP.
• Pick Ice/Lightning if you want an easy grind over raw numbers. MeowDB calls it the easiest second-job grind: Thunder Bolt reaches six mobs and Teleport gets you around the map fast. Max Thunder Bolt costs 40 MP per cast, and low HP makes missed Magic Guard upkeep dangerous.
• Pick Cleric if you want to support a party. MeowDB notes that Heal and Bless support nearby party members, while Invincible protects only you.

07All 10 jobs at a glance (Lv 70 benchmark)

Single-target DPM and AoE DPM from MeowDB’s Lv 70 rankings, Realistic tier, checked November 3, 2026. AoE is measured at each skill’s own target cap.

08FAQ

Can I change my second job later? No. MapleStory Classic Wiki says the choice only happens once per character, and an SP Reset Scroll resets skills but not your job.

What level is second job advancement? Level 30, at the same instructor who gave you first job at level 10, according to Nexon’s launch notes.

Which second job does the most damage? At MeowDB’s Lv 70 benchmark, Bandit does the most single-target damage and Fighter does the most at six targets. These are modeled numbers with every hit landing.

Which second job is best for party support? Cleric. MeowDB notes that Heal and Bless support nearby party members.

Is there a third job? Not at launch. MeowDB’s roadmap summary says third job has no date yet, with a test server planned for early 2027.

09Next step: open your class build

Once you have a favorite, open its build page for weapons, AP, SP order and training maps. If you are not level 30 yet, start with the advancement guide and the EXP planner.